Louisiana Downs to offer training center services

Louisiana Downs, which was to close its meet Wednesday, will begin offering training center services – including published workouts – on Nov. 15, according to the track’s director of racing, David Heitzmann. The stall space will be available for Thoroughbreds for a per diem rate through March 19.

Heitzmann said the decision to open for training this winter and into the spring is to fill a void left by the recent closure of the Evangeline Downs Training Center near Lafayette, La.

“With the closing of the training center down south, we felt like the horsemen needed some additional stall space, and during the winter we usually have 400 to 600 stalls available during our Quarter Horse meet,” Heitzmann said Monday. “It’s being proactive.”

Heitzmann said there will be official clockers daily at Louisiana Downs, plus outriders, ambulance services, and 24-hour security. The cost is $10 per day per stall, and that would include dorm rooms and walking machine privileges.

The track opens a meet for Quarter Horses in January.